Barbara J. Hamby

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Happy First Day Home-Valentines Day

We are in the recovery rooms--home again. The cruise part of the trip was mostly delightful, but flying across the country is not for these two oldies. We decided we won’t do that again. Flying through Houston airport on the back seat of a speeding shuttle, to get from Concourse E, Gate 12 to Concourse C, Gate 32, in time to board our flight to Portland was a thrill we could have done without. We hung on for dear life on the corners.

We arrived in Portland Tuesday night, on time, and our luggage arrived at the baggage carousel the same time we did. That was the highlight of our four flights on non-roomy 737’s. Riding from Portland to Houston at midnight in Row 29, the back seat (non-reclining), probably was nearly as bad as getting through security at PDX. Details later on my website travel page.

Last night being back in my own bed was great and back in “my own” swimming pool and hot tub this afternoon was also a joy. The beds on the cruise ship are very good, but nothing beats your own. However, there is a lot to be said for having someone else make it every day, sometimes twice a day.

Floyd’s daughter Marcia eased my transition back into fixing food today by bringing over our evening meal, a delicious stew and rolls to go with it. Without that, we might have had canned soup because I was near collapse by the time I did my swim/exercise routine and picked up a few groceries. I flopped down on a recliner after dinner and slept for two hours, which explains why I’m awake to write this.

Being away and meeting so many people who have been affected by natural disasters makes us appreciate what we have so much more. The young Indonesian man who served ice cream during the cruise said his home in Jakarta was safe, but the floods there have been disastrous.

Another crew member we talked to, also Indonesian, has another six months to go on his one year contract with the cruise line. He is away from his family for twelve months, then has three months at home. He hasn’t yet seen his six-month old son and wonders if his five-year-old will remember him. I’m sure that the work on the cruise ships is their best way to support their families. Otherwise they wouldn’t be there.

As I’ve said before, I’m not always proud to be an American, but am eternally glad to have been born here.

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